The Toronto Film Festival kicked off on September 7 in Ontario with the screening of the opening-night movie, “The Boy and the Heron,” directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. This year’s festival features a lineup of highly anticipated films, including world premieres of “Dumb Money,” “Pain Hustlers,” “Next Goal Wins,” “North Star,” “Pole man,” “Knox Goes Away,” “Woman of the Hour,” “Seven Veils,” “Shoshana,” “Reptile,” “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” “The Convert,” and “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.”
In addition to these premieres, the festival showcases new films from celebrated directors such as Alexander Payne, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Alice Rohrwacher, and Richard Linklater.
Deadline is covering the festival and providing reviews of the key films. They have compiled a list of their reviews from the festival, which was awarded Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” the People’s Choice Award for Best Film last year. The reviews can be accessed by clicking on the film titles on their website.
“The Boy and the Heron,” directed by Hayao Miyazaki, was featured as part of the Gala Presentations section. The film explores complex themes with stunning visuals, although it may not be Studio Ghibli’s strongest outing. Miyazaki’s return after a decade-long hiatus serves as a reminder of his unique vision and artistry in the world of animation.
Another notable film is “Discovery,” directed by Patricia Arquette, which takes place in 1992 but has a filmmaking style reminiscent of the ’70s, particularly Robert Altman’s work. Arquette’s directorial debut shows promise and signals a potential new career behind the camera.
In the Special Presentations section, Kristin Scott Thomas directs a film starring herself, Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, and others. The film, which is not a broad comedy, takes inspiration from French movies and smart examples of the genre such as Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “Marriage Story.”
The Toronto Film Festival will continue until September 17, and more reviews will be added to Deadline’s compilation throughout the duration of the festival.